YO senior executive

director Arnie Weiner

of Royal Oak and David

Levine of West Bloomfield

New Teen
Home

BBYO conference center
dedicated in
David Bittker's memory.

Sandy and Alan Bittker of
Franklin

Gail Fisher of West
Bloomfield, Lori

Garon of Franklin
and Brian Kepes of
Bloomfield Hills

Sammi Cutler, 15, of West
Bloomfield, and Stephanie
Steinberg, 16, of Farmington

Hills

T

he late
Jodi Tobin of West
David L.
Bloomfield.
Bittker had
The new center on
a passion for the
Grange Hall Road
B'nai B'rith Youth
near Camp Maas has a
Organization and a
large lounge area with
commitment to young
a fireplace, two kitch-
leaders that was
ens, a chapel, meeting
strong and enduring
rooms and bunks that
— just like the new
can accommodate
conference center in
40 young people and
Ortonville that now
six staff members. It
bears his name.
replaces the Charles and Florence
Bittker, who died of pancreatic
Milan Centre in Belle River,
cancer last year, was involved
Ontario, which BBYO used for
in the initial planning for the
retreats and week-long training
building, which began
sessions over the last
five years ago. At the
35 years.
time, the executive
The Milan facility
with National Lumber
has deteriorated and
Company in Warren
taking the trip across
insisted that an
the border into Canada
extremely durable
has become more com-
product called hardy
plicated and expensive.
The late
plank be used in the
The Milan Centre will
David Bit tker
construction.
now be sold.
After his death, the building
"As a teenager, my favor-
committee honored his request,
ite times were the Milan
using the concrete fiber siding
retreats," said Sherry Kanter
to build the new $1.3 million,
of Huntington Woods, the
5,700-square-foot facility. More
dedication committee chair.
than 250 people attended the
"Regretfully, [that center] has
official dedication ceremony, held seen better days. It was time to
Sept. 10.
find a new home for BBYO."
"The fact that his children,
Bittker's wife, Arline, of
grandchildren and all of the
Orchard Lake and David Kahan
BBYO youth will use this center,
of Bloomfield Hills affixed a mez-
see his name on the building and zuzah to the front entrance of the
understand just how dedicated
new building during the dedica-
he was to the future of Jewish
tion ceremony. A Torah, donated
youth is both an honor and a
by Congregation Beth Tephilath
legacy',' said Bittker's daughter,
Moses in Mount Clemens, was

then carried in and placed in
the conference center's chapel.
Many people who knew and
loved David Bittker wiped away
tears as they watched one of his
dreams become a reality.
"I saw the drawings; I've been
in on each step, but until you
see it all put together — I'm
amazed," said Arline Bittker. `'Of
course, David would have been
proud. He would have been very
excited. I'm overwhelmed."
"This is a place where these
kids can have meaningful Jewish
experiences for years to come
said Barbara Horowitz of West
Bloomfield, BBYO Commission
chair.
"We're just all very exicted,"
added her son, Geoff Horowitz,
17, regional AZA president. "This
place was built for us. It was built
for AZA and BBG chapters, and
it's just perfect."
Spotted in the crowd at the
dedication ceremony were: David
Bittker's children, Jodi and
Keith Tobin and Caryn and
Ron Bittker of West Bloomfield,
and Sandy and Alan Bittker
of Franklin; Rick Segal, Bob

Naftaly, Austin Kanter, David
Levine, Shira and Mike
Kahan and Francie and Gary
Snyder, all of West Bloomfield;
Allan Nachman and Bob
Aronson, both of Bloomfield
Hills; Michele Siegel of Beverly
Hills; and Allan Gelfond and
Merle and Ron Schwartz of
Farmington Hills. _7

Jenna Kerner, 17,

and Carli Boyer,
17, both of West
Bloomfield

50

September 14 a 2006

Adult board chair Barbara Horowitz of

West Bloomfield and her son, Geoff, 17,
regional president

Nancy and Manny Kalef of Southfield